Tishomingo resident Dorothy Shackleford, the mother of Grammy-nominated Oklahoma country music superstar Blake Shelton, released her first novel, “Time for Me to Come Home,” today.

Inspired by real holiday memories, “Time for Me to Come Home” (NAL Hardcover; October 29, 2013; $19.95) is a sweet and funny story that celebrates the spirit of Christmas and the true meaning of finding your way back home, according to a news release.

Thirty-five-year-old Heath Sawyer has finally made it to the big time as a country music star. After a year full of the kind of success he has always dreamed of, he finds himself performing a sold-out show at Madison Square Garden. It’s only as the lights on the stage go down and the Christmas lights outside come on that Heath realizes there’s just one place he wants to be for the holidays: back home in Okmulgee, Oklahoma.

But journeying anywhere on Christmas Eve is never easy, and with flight delays, inclement weather, and the unexpected company of a feisty young woman who’s about to become his traveling companion, Heath will need a Christmas miracle to make his way home in time to open presents.

“Time for Me to Come Home” is filled with touching anecdotes and heartfelt sentiments that echo the real life bond between Shackleford and her son, the reigning Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year.

The heartwarming Christmas story is based on the song “Time for Me to Come Home” which Shelton and Shackleford wrote and recorded for his critically acclaimed seasonal album “Cheers, it’s Christmas.” Shackleford expands on the song’s storytelling and paints a vivid world in which this country music star remembers his roots in the south.

“No matter what happens, you will always be my little boy. And this will always be your home. Don’t run too far. And don’t stay away too long. Merry Christmas.”

About the authors:

Dorothy Shackleford is the mother of country music megastar Blake Shelton. She has written dozens of songs over the past twenty years, including several collaborations with Shelton like “Time for Me to Come Home.” She lives in Oklahoma with her husband, Mike.

Travis Thrasher is the author of more than 20 works of fiction, including collaborations with musicians such as Jimmy Wayne and Thompson Square. He lives with his wife and three daughters near Chicago.

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by Brandy McDonnell

Entertainment Reporter

Brandy McDonnell, also known by her initials BAM, writes stories and reviews on movies, music, the arts and other aspects of entertainment. She is NewsOK’s top blogger: Her 4-year-old entertainment news blog, BAM’s Blog, has notched more than 1...